Jul 10 – Drug Addict Sentenced To 20 Months In Prison
A local man, who was addicted to drugs since he was 13 years old, was sentenced to a year and eight months in prison at the Supreme Court yesterday morning.
Manuel Joseph Hernandez, 27, was given 15 months each for two counts of possession with intent to supply nearly 8g of cocaine in total. His sentence was reduced to 20 months after pleading guilty to multiple drug charges.
He was charged with one count of possession of cocaine weighing 4.9g, count of possession with intent to supply 4.9g of cocaine, one count of possession of 3g of cocaine, one count of possession with intent to supply 3g of cocaine, and one count of possession of 9g of cannabis resin.
The Crown heard Hernandez was stopped by the Royal Gibraltar Police on 9th August 2013 near Europa Road, where he was found with 4.9g of cocaine in his pouch and €250 in cash.
Senior Crown Counsel Damian Conroy said a search warrant was executed at his home in Royal Ocean Plaza, where police found a further 3g of cocaine and 9g of cannabis resin, and drug paraphernalia.
Appearing for the defendant, Francis Borastero-Porter said his client has been seeking counselling for depression and suicidal thoughts while in custody. He added that his client was addicted to drugs since he was a teenager, but had shown remorse and admitted his guilt, and has realised the effect of his actions on his girlfriend and parents.
Puisne Judge Karen Prescott said Hernandez was part of a chain, but he had to have some awareness of the scale of the operation he was involved in when he was supplied with the drugs he was addicted to.
He will serve his two prison sentences consecutively. The two charges for possession of cocaine and one charge for possession of cannabis resin attracted no further penalty.
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